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The trip from Pattaya to Koh Samet involves a one hour drive to the coastal town of Ban Phe and then a 45 minute ferry ride from the Ban Phe pier to the island of Koh Samet. From Pattaya, Thai bus services are available to Ban Phe very cheaply although these regular buses stop frequently and take a couple of hours to reach the coastal town. The best option to get from Pattaya to Koh Samet is to buy a seat on an express minivan from most Pattaya travel agencies that will usually reach the pier at Ban Phe in less than one hour. A seat on the minibus will cost a couple hundred baht and the ferry only costs 50 baht one way to Koh Samet.

Once on Koh Samet there are numerous minibus services to take you to your hotel if you have already booked one or you can ask the drivers to take you to a hotel within your budget. If you are backpacking and don’t want to spend a lot of money I would recommend heading to Vong Deaun Beach since there are a number of cheaper bungalows available there spread along the beach. From Vong Deaun Beach it is an easy walk to a few of the more popular beaches on Koh Samet and numerous restaurants and small supply shops are available for bits and pieces like snacks, drinks, sunscreen, hats etc.

The last time I was on Koh Samet I hired a motorbike to travel around the island but make sure you hire a bike with dirt bike tires since the road that runs around the island is a dirt track pretending to be a road. Although, since there is little infrastructure on Koh Samet, the big developers have so far stayed away from the island and it still remains a real tropical paradise. The dirt tracks and the lack of 5 star resorts on Koh Samet really make it stand out as a wonderful destination unlike the busy and well developed islands of Phuket and Koh Samui.

There is not a great deal to do on Koh Samet other than kick back and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and take a swim in the beautiful clear water. If you are feeling adventurous and full of energy you could go for a bush walk along the island’s many jungle tracks and check out numerous secluded beaches. Snorkeling trips are available through most hotels or bungalows and you will see many jet skis for hire on the beach.

If you are heading to Koh Samet on a weekend or especially on a long weekend it would be a good idea to book your accommodation before you arrive since the island only ever gets busy on the weekends. The trip from Pattaya to Koh Samet is a comfortable and relatively short drive and ferry ride but a nice opportunity to escape the Pattaya crowds and relax for a few days while enjoying the white sand and crystal clear waters. The fact that Koh Samet is so basic, raw and natural is its most appealing feature.

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